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With the 9 days starting at the beginning of next week, and Tishha B’av following, it’s important to make sure you’re familiar with the practical laws and halachahs associated with this mournful time of year.

Can I have my contractor continue the renovations on my bungalow, or should we wait until after Tishah B’av?

My children are constantly getting their clothes dirty. Can I wash their clothes during the nine days?

What should I do about taking showers during the nine days?

May I water my garden plants to keep them healthy?

In Laws of Daily Living: The Three Weeks and Tishah B’av, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen answers these questions, along with all of the halachic queries you might have, from the simple to the most complex, This week’s download offers a selection from the laws pertaining to the 9 days preceding Tishah B’av.

We all hope that this Tishah B’av won’t be a day of mourning. But in case it is, it’s important to be prepared by learning the laws:

On Tuesday we fasted for Shivah Assar B’Tammuz, marking the beginning of saddest weeks of the Jewish calendar. During the three weeks, and leading up to Tisha B’av, we mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and the Bais Hamikdash, the holy Temple, and our current exile in galus.

Our sages teach us the importance of feeling a deep longing for for mashiach and the days of redemption. But achieving that seep inner longing is much easier said than done. How does one go about feeling that burning desire in the depths of their heart? How does one really learn to feel that yearning?

The answers lie within Yearning With Fireby Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, author of the best-selling and revolutionary Praying With Fire books.The deep insights and inspirational messages surrounding this important topic are broken down into daily learning segments. In just five minutes each day, you can change your outlook on life, and approach this Tisha B’av with the proper thoughts and feelings about galus and geulah.

To help you prepare for the nine days and tisha b’av, we’re offering you a sampler download of Yearning With Fire.Download it. Print it. Learn it. Be inspired! And of course, please tell your friends about this valuable resource available from ArtScroll: every Thursday we offer an inspirational Torah download, related to the weekly parasha or other timely topics.

The Three Weeks are approaching and as I write this column and our brethren in many parts of Eretz Yisrael are in bomb shelters, missiles are raining down from Gaza, sirens are going off. The shivah for the three kidnapped boys, Hy’d, has just finished and r’l six Jewish boys are in custody for confessing to the murder of an Arab youth.

Now, more than ever, we need the Torah to help us find a path in the darkness; to guide us to the meaning in our mourning. And when a Jew needs to find that path – he turns to halachah.

For tens of thousands of readers, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen‘s books of halachah, Jewish law, are synonymous with extraordinary clarity.

The book is enriched and deepened by a discussion of the historical background of the momentous events that led to the Temple’s destruction, based on the teachings of the author’s grandfather, the renowned Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt’l. This adds a new and important dimension to the way we mark this period. Rabbi Miller’s thought provides a moving and profound discussion of the Beis HaMikdash, its role in our lives, and the all-consuming loss that the Jewish People suffered with its destruction.

Those who truly mourn the loss of the Temple, say our Sages, are destined to rejoice in its rebuilding. As we study and learn to properly follow the laws of these sad weeks, we bring that long-awaited moment ever closer.

Yes, mourning came early this year. As we mark the Three Weeks, Nine Days, and Tisha B’Av, we pray that in the merit of our mourning, geulah will come early as well.

There’s something special about shabbos in the summer. The long afternoons afford us all time to nap, socialize, and we still have time to learn. Custom has us learning a chapter of Pirkei Avos, Ethics of our Fathers, every week. Over the course of our many years of publishing, ArtScroll has put forth a large number of seforim on Pirkei Avos.

Pirkei Avos: Teachings for Our Time by Rabbi Berel Wein is a masterpiece. Its large size makes it an excellent and impressive gift, but it’s the masterful content that really makes this book stand out. With a focus on the text of Pirkei Avos (which is printed on the top of each page for your learning convenience), noted lecturer and author Rabbi Berel Wein provides a unique learning experience through innovative commentary and insightful stories. This week’s chapter is Perek Vav, chapter 6, and we’re giving you a chance to experience this sefer with our free weekly download.

Life is hard to navigate. And while a GPS unit might help you get around the roads to help you reach your destination, how do you navigate life’s twists and turns?

The answer? GPS! Navigation for Your Soul. Translating the brilliant concepts of the Nesivos Shalom into contemporary and easy to understand terms, GPS! is your guide to navigating life’s challenges.

To give you an idea of the clever layout, engaging design and of course, thought-provoking content that are showcased in GPS!, we’re giving our readers an opportunity to download a sample chapter from this new book.

Tzirel Rus Berger, author of our best-sellingMountain Familywill be continuing her speaking tour over the next couple of weeks. You don’t want to miss her captivating and inspirational talk! Scroll down for a full list of her local appearances.

Giveaway is over.

To enter the giveaway:

**Giveaway ends on Monday, June 16th at 11:59 pm eastern time. Prize can be shipped within the USA. Winner will be notified via email. Valid email address must be provided to claim prize. Limit one entry per person on the blog and an additional entry per person is available on Facebook.

Exciting news! Today marks the start of ArtScroll’s June Sale! From now through June 24th, we’re offering a 20% discount on allof our books! That’s right – any book you want from ArtScroll.com is now 20% off!

Take a look at some of our new releases – now available at 20% off!

Maran Harav Ovadia by Rabbi Yehuda Heimowitz – Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef met with world leaders and politicians, as well as humble Jews seeking guidance and advice. He was the author of numerous seforim, the Sefardic Chief Rabbi of Israel…and the leader who revitalized the Sefardic community. This comprehensive biography allows a glimpse into one of the greatest rabbinical leaders of the last 100 years.

Living Kiddush Hashem by Rabbi Shraga Freedman – What exactly is a Kiddush Hashem? How do we sanctify Hashem’s name? This groundbreaking new volume presents practical strategies for making Kiddush Hashem an essential component of our lives.

Positive Word Power for Teens – Written especially for teenage readers, this fantastic new book will teach you the impact of the words you use and encourage kindness and sensitivity.

48 By Rabbi Nachman Seltzer – Our sages teach us 48 ways to make the Torah a part of us. 48 presents incredible true stories for each of these ways, told in the entertaining and education style of Rabbi Nachman Seltzer.

Touched by Their Faith by Rabbi Yechiel Spero – Uniquely touching and inspiring, tens out thousands of people have been inspired by Rabbi Spero’s stories. In his newest collection, we are treated to a wealth of stories that will uplift and encourage your faith.

Upwards by Shami Reinman – this incredible story of a woman’s journey through illness and her spiritual triumph over a dreaded illness has touched the lives of all who read it.

This is just a small sampling of over 1800 titles available from ArtScroll – all at 20% off! Click here to shop.

You can print the PDFs by clicking the links below, or you can scroll down for image files of the recipes. Make sure to read our helpful tips from the authors and the handy make-ahead and freezer guide!

Many blended soups, such as the Cauliflower and Lemon soup (page 50) and the Broccoli Cheddar soup (page 46) freeze nicely.

To prepare the Baked Roasted Veggie Pasta (page 94) ahead, make each component separately and reheat them together just before serving.

Pasta sauces (see chapter on pasta, starting on page 82) can be frozen up to a month. Cook the pasta fresh, and warm up together with the sauce.

All desserts in Dairy Made Easy (other than Peanut Butter Crème Brule) can be frozen fully prepared.

Three Cheese Quiche (page 34) can be frozen after baking and reheated just before serving.

Calsones (page 90) freeze nicely. When you defrost them, leave uncovered for a crunchy dish, or cover it while reheating for a softer dish.

Salad dressings can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge.

Holiday Cooking Tips from Leah and Victoria:

There will be enough pastries to go around. Instead, prepare and serve a couple of (easy-to-make-ahead) frozen desserts. Shavuos signals the beginning of summer, and everyone will be appreciative when you bring refreshing treats out from the freezer. I’m making Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream (from Dairy Made Easy) in little mason jars and Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwiches (from Kids Cooking Made Easy) for the kids. – Victoria Dwek

Even if you’ll be preparing your meals fresh, get as many components as you can out of the way in advance. For example, prepare your salad dressings in advance. Balance your menu with items you can prep ahead, like Arancini balls (fry fresh!) and quick to assemble sides like cauliflower garlic bites. – Leah Schapira

If you’re one of the tens of thousands of people all over the world who has been touched by one of Rabbi Yechiel Spero’s stories, you don’t want to miss this week’s download from his best-selling volume on the weekly Torah portion: Touched By The Parasaha 2: Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim.

Master teacher and story-teller Rabbi Yechiel Spero has a gift for telling stories. In this best-selling series on the Parasha, Rabbi Spero imparts his insights and stories and drives home the lessons of the weekly Torah portion in an enjoyable and inspirational form.